Means for interconnecting and interlocking tubes or the like



June 13, 1950 P. c. BARTON 2,511,034

MEANS EOE INTERCONNECTENG AND INTERLOCKING TUBES 0R THE LIKE Filed Deo. 18, 1947 INVENTOR PE RCY CHARLE S BARTON Patented June 13, 1950 MEANS FR INTERCONNECTING AND INTERLOCKING TUBES R THE LIKE Percy Charles Barton, Birmingham, England Application December 18, 1947, Serial No. 792,445 In Great Britain January 11, 194'?` 2 Claims.

This invention has reference to an improved means for interconnecting and interlocking tubes or the like, and has especial application to the interconnecting and interlocking of metallic tubes used in a scaffolding structure, but is equally applicable to other purposes.

The object of the present invention is to provide a readily adapted and simple means of interconnecting say a pair of aligned tubes, or a tube into a socket or union, where the interconnection and interlocking action can be readily accomplished without involving the use of locking screws, pins, sleeves, or clamps according to more general practice.

The invention consists of means for interconnecting and interlocking tubes or the like, comprising a collar incorporating a wedge piece, said collar being associated with a pair of clamping members adapted to be contained within adjacent ends of a pair of tubes or the like and to be expanded thereinto and to be interlocked therewith by movement of the said collar transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubes or the like.

One means of carrying the invention into practice as applied to the interconnection and interlocking of a pair of aligned tubes is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the device showing the adjacent ends of the two tubes to be inter'- connected and interlocked in dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on line 2-2 of Fig. 1 before the interlocking has been effected.

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional elevation to that seen in Fig. 2, but showing the associated parts in their interlocked position.

The aligned tubes a which may form part of a scaffolding structure or otherwise are interconnected and interlocked by the device now to be described. This device comprises a collar b in the form of a slotted framework having a pair of slots b1 of similar coniiguration between which pair of slots is formed a wedge piece b2 which is stepped at b3 approximately midway in the length of the collar to provide an integral rib b4 which is disposed across the collar, said steps b3 forming shoulders in the rib which may limit the sliding motion permitted between the collar and a pair of spigot segments c. Within each of the slots b1 is loosely mounted and located an arcuate metallic bar each bar forming one half or segment of the spigot c, the bars being adapted to extend on each side of the collar as clearly seen in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The segments c are capable of insertion within adjacent ends of the pair of aligned tubes a, each segment being transversely slotted at c1 to provide a guideway engagement between the segments and the wedge b2 and rib b4 of the collar b. When. the divided segmental spigot c and the collar b have been properly located within the adjacent ends of the pair of tubes a as seen in Fig. 1, the collar is subjected, say by means of a hammer, to a driving force in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tubes a by striking a blow on the anvil b5 formed on the upper edge of the collar whereby the wedge b2 of the collar is forced between the two halves of the segmental spigot c and expands the spigot as clearly seen in Fig. 3 of the drawings until the two segments are firmly and rigidly engaged within the pair of tubes a to securely interlock the two lengths of aligned tubing together.

In order to release the tubes a driving force is applied to the opposite end or edge of the collar b to that to which the initial driving force was applied thereby admitting of a contraction of the two segments of the spigot c to the position seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings and of a subsequent disassembly of the interconnected and interlocking device from within the pair of tubes.

The configuration of the pair of slots b1 in the collar b serve to guide and determine the motion of the two segments of the spigot c within the collar and this motion is further guided by the slidable registry of the longitudinal edges of the rib wedge b2 and rib b4 within the transverse guide slots c1 formed in each half of the spigot c.

Although the invention has been more particularly described as applied to a means of interconnecting and interlocking the adjacent ends of a pair of aligned tubes, it will be appreciated that a similar means oi interconnection and interlocking may be utilised for the location of a tube within a socket or union, or within a socketed pedestal or otherwise.

I claim:

1. An expansion connector for tubes and the like comprising, in combination, a pair of axially elongated clamping members having segmental transverse cross sections and being adapted to be inserted in the ends of the tubes to be joined, there being aligned, opposed notches in the edges of each of said clamping members and a locking member having a crossbar of wedge shaped profile adapted to be inserted transversely through said notches between said clamping members and movable transversely to engage said wedge shaped crossbar with the edges of said clamping members thereby expanding said clamping mem- REFERENCES CITED bers tightly in said tubes- The followin referen ar f 2. Means for interconnecting tubes and the fue of this patgent: ces e o record in the like comprising, in combination, a pair of axially elongated clamping members having segmental UNITED STATES PATENTS Cil transverse cross sections, there being aligned, Number Name Date opposed notches in the edges of said clamping 1,344,914 Londen une 29, 1920 members and locking member consisting of an s, Y

open frame and a crossbar extending across be- FOREIGN PATENTS tween parts of said frame and having a Wedge i0 Number Country Date shaped prole, said clamping members beingin-v 350,530 Great Britain une 1g. 1931 sertable through corresponding-spaces between said frame and said crossbar and said lockingmember being movable transversely for engaging n said crossbar in the notches in said clam'ping 15 members. Y s

PERCY CHARLES BARTON. 

